Scrotal Lift / Scrotoplasty
Excess or lax skin on the scrotum is reduced and reshaped in a targeted way, with particular attention to natural proportions, mobility and function.
The shape, size and position of the scrotum differ from man to man.
Genetic predisposition, ageing processes, skin elasticity, and significant weight changes can cause the scrotum to hang lower, or pronounced excess skin to develop.
Some changes are perceived mainly aesthetically. Others can cause discomfort in daily life, during sport, through friction, or during intimacy.
A scrotal lift, also called scrotoplasty, makes it possible to reduce excess skin in a targeted way and reshape the contour of the scrotum. This is not about tightening or lifting the scrotum as much as possible. It is one of several procedures within male intimate surgery, alongside treatments addressing the penoscrotal junction or changes following significant weight loss.
At Clinic Selnau in Zürich, individual anatomy is the primary focus.
Our Approach
The scrotum is a mobile and functional anatomical structure.
Its position and skin characteristics naturally vary and change, among other things, with temperature and muscle activity. A scrotal lift needs to take this function into account.
For this reason, planning does not begin with the question of how much skin can be removed. What matters is which skin is actually excess, where it is located, and whether changes to the junction with the penis exist at the same time.
Sufficient tissue and mobility need to be preserved. A good scrotoplasty does not remove as much skin as possible — it reduces exactly as much tissue as is meaningful for a balanced contour and preserving natural function.
Aesthetic & Functional Reasons
A scrotal lift may be considered for different reasons.
These include, for example:
- Pronounced excess skin
- Low-hanging scrotal tissue
- Age-related loss of skin elasticity
- Changes following significant weight loss
- Mechanical friction
- Discomfort during movement or sport
- Disruptive tissue in tight clothing
- Pronounced asymmetries
- Changes following previous procedures
- Combination with penoscrotal webbing
Not every lower scrotal position represents a change requiring treatment. For this reason, a distinction is first made between natural anatomy and genuinely disruptive excess skin.
Planning & Analysis
Before a scrotal lift, we assess skin quality, excess skin, symmetry, and the distribution of existing tissue.
The junction between the penis and scrotum is also considered. For some men, penoscrotal webbing also exists, where scrotal skin extends further forward along the underside of the penile shaft. In these cases, a penoscrotal junction correction can additionally make sense.
Where the changes are connected to significant weight loss, the pubic area is also assessed. A more comprehensive plan as part of intimate surgery following weight change can then make sense.
The Procedure
In a scrotal lift, excess skin is removed in a targeted way and the remaining tissue is reshaped.
The extent and position of the skin reduction are guided by individual anatomy. Sufficient skin needs to be preserved so that the natural mobility of the scrotum is not unnecessarily restricted.
The incision is planned so that the resulting scars sit, where possible, within natural anatomical transitions or folds. The aim is a controlled reduction of excess skin, not maximum tightening.
How Much Skin Should Be Removed?
This question is an essential part of surgical planning.
The scrotum needs sufficient mobile skin. Excessive tightening can cause tension and impair natural mobility. For this reason, planning is not based solely on how the scrotum looks while standing — mobility, tissue quality, and functional anatomy also need to be considered.
It is not the maximum possible skin reduction that determines the result. What matters is the relationship between tightening and preserved function.
Scrotal Lift or Penoscrotal Junction Correction?
Both procedures affect anatomically adjacent regions but treat different changes.
In a scrotal lift, excess or lax skin of the scrotum is the primary concern. With penoscrotal webbing, scrotal skin extends further forward along the underside of the penile shaft — here, a penoscrotal junction correction can be more appropriate.
Where both changes exist at the same time, they can be addressed within a joint surgical concept.
Following Weight Loss
Significant weight loss can also change the anatomy of the male intimate area. Alongside excess scrotal skin, excess skin or fat tissue in the pubic area can be present.
In these situations, the scrotum should not be considered completely in isolation. As part of intimate surgery following weight change, we assess which structures are actually responsible for the changed contour. Depending on the starting point, liposuction, an abdominoplasty, or a more comprehensive body contouring can additionally make sense.
Symmetry & Natural Differences
The scrotum is naturally not perfectly symmetrical.
The testicles, too, are often not at exactly the same height. A scrotal lift should not artificially symmetrise this natural anatomy.
Significant differences in excess skin can be considered, but complete symmetry cannot be guaranteed. The aim is a more balanced contour while preserving natural anatomical relationships.
Correction Following a Previous Operation
Scars, excess skin, asymmetries, or other changes can exist following previous procedures.
A further operation needs to be planned particularly carefully. Scars can influence blood supply, skin elasticity, and mobility. For this reason, it is first assessed which tissue portions are present, and what correction is safely and realistically possible. Not every irregularity should be operated on again.
Function Before Maximum Tightening
The scrotum fulfils important anatomical and functional roles.
An aesthetic change, therefore, must not be planned separately from its function. Sufficient mobility, blood supply, and low tissue tension need to be preserved.
The aim of a scrotoplasty is not the tightest possible scrotum. It is a balanced contour while preserving natural function.
Healing & Results
Following a scrotal lift, swelling and bruising are normal at first.
The scrotum, in particular, can swell noticeably during the early healing phase due to its tissue characteristics. A feeling of tightness can also occur.
During the first healing phase, friction, greater pressure, and physical strain should be reduced. Sport, cycling and sexual activity need to be paused for an appropriate period. The exact aftercare is determined individually.
Swelling, tissue, and scars change over several weeks and months. The final result, therefore, should not be assessed immediately after surgery.
Long-Term Changes
The result of a scrotal lift can be long-term stable.
The skin, however, remains subject to natural ageing processes. With increasing age or significant weight changes, tissue quality can change again. These factors are considered during planning.
Consultation
During your personal consultation at Clinic Selnau in Zürich, we discuss what concerns you and whether functional discomfort exists.
We assess excess skin, tissue quality, symmetry, and the anatomical transitions to the penis and pubic area. On this basis, we decide whether a scrotal lift / scrotoplasty can make sense.
Where penoscrotal webbing exists at the same time, a penoscrotal junction correction can be included in planning. Where the changes arose following significant weight loss, a more comprehensive assessment as part of intimate surgery following weight change can make sense.
We discuss the incision pattern, scars, the healing process, and the limitations and risks of treatment. The aim is not a standardised shape. It is to treat disruptive excess skin in a targeted way, while preserving the natural anatomy and function of the scrotum.